FORMER ACTIVIST CALLS FOR JUSTICE FOR TAMILS IN SRI LANKA AFTER BEING ELECTED NEW PROVINCIAL TAMIL LEADER IN SOUTH AFRICA

Mr Richard Govender and some of his officials FORMER ACTIVIST CALLS FOR JUSTICE FOR TAMILS IN SRI LANKA AFTER BEING ELECTED NEW LEADER OF TAMILS IN THE KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE OF SOUTH AFRICA.

Mr Richard Govender and some of his officials By Subry Govender A former activist, who propogated in South Africa the struggles of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, has called for justice for Eelam Tamils after being elected the new president of the Tamil Federation of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Mr Richard Govender, who used to head the Tamil Co-Ordinating Committee, was elected as the new provinical Tamil leader at the biennial general meeting of the TFKZN at the South African Tamil Federation Cultural Centre in Silverglen, Chatsworth, Durban on Sunday, February 9.

Some members at the meeting TAMILS MUST BE GIVEN FREEDOM "We have to ensure that the Tamil people of Sri Lanka are accorded their full rights and freedom in their traditional homelands in the North and East of Sri Lanka", Mr Govender told me in an interview after the meeting. "We must also ensure that those who were responsible for the genocide of between 70 000 and 100 000 Tamils in the final stages of the war in 2009 must be brought to justice before an international court of justice. "The meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva next month must take the appropriate decisions to grant the Tamil people their freedom in the land of their birth.

Members who attended the meeting INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY "The international community, including South Africa, India, Britain and the United States, cannot stand idly by and watch the Tamil people being robbed of their freedom and facing genocide on a continuous basis in the North and East of Sri Lanka. "The Tamils were the original inhabitants of that part of Sri Lanka and they must be granted their freedom," said Mr Govender. Mr Govender is the latest Tamil leader in South Africa to call for justice and freedom for Tamils in Sri Lanka. Early in January, the new leader of the South African Tamil Federation, Mr Karthi Moothsamy, also made a similar call for the culprits of the Tamil genocide to be brought to justice before the International Criminal Court. Mr Govender earlier in the meeting emphasised that he would play a constructive and active role in promoting the Tamil language, culture, tradition and music among the Tamil descendants in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. "We have to work from the grass-roots levels to meet the cultural, social, linguistic and other needs of the people," Mr Govender told the meeting soon after being elected.

Mr Balan Gounder and Saths Chettiar SOCIAL ISSUES TO BE TACKLED Mr Govender said the people faced many social challenges, especially drug addiction and women and child abuse. He said it was vitally important for the organisation to work with the "grass-roots" people in order to help people affected by such problems. "We have to take the leadership roles on many issues and, therefore, we will go out there and interact with organisations and people. We especially want to concentrate on the youth as the young people need to become involved in the promotion of our cultures, traditions, language and music. "We also want to tackle the issue of priests who manipulate temple organisations for their own personal interests. Some of these priests have turned some temple organisations into war zones. "We cannot allow this type of divisions in our organisations," he said. Mr Gounder and Mr Jaya Pillay Mr Govender took over from 81-year-old Mr Balan Gounder, who did not stand for re-election. Mr Gounder was, however, chosen by Mr Govender as his deputy. The leadership of the Tamil Federation of KZN prior to Mr Gounder was occupied by Bala Naidoo, who holds a senior position in the South African Police Service(SAPS). Mr Govender's other officials are: Mrs Kogie Moorthi and Mr Saths Chettiar, joint secretaries; Mr Krish Nair, treasurer; and Dr Ganas Bull Murugan, Public Relations Officer. The committee members elected are: Mrs Salo Muthen (Tamil Advancement Society), Mr Naranjee, Mr Barry Pillay (Tamil Protective Society) of Pietermaritzburg, Mrs Veni Pather (former PRO), Mr Mervyn Reddy and Mr Jaya Pillay (former joint secretary). Mr Govender's election follows in the wake of the election of Mr Karthy Moothsamy of Benoni as the new president of the South African Tamil Federation late lasy year.

MR KARTHI MOOTHSAMY AND MR MICKY CHETTY Mr Moothsamy was one of the leaders who attended the meeting along with his executive officials - Mr Marie Pillay-Ramaya and Mr Pops Govender. The immediate former president, Ms Pauline Naidoo, also arrived from Johannesburg to attend the meeting. The leader of the International Organisation for the Promotion of Tamil and former a former SATF president, Mr Micky Chetty, was also present. 'BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN OTHERS' Mr Moothsamy, who was called upon to address the meeting, pledged his full support to Mr Govender and his new officials. He called on people to "stop throwing stones" and become "part of the solution". Mr Karthy Moothsamy and Marie-Pillay Ramaya "Be the change you like to see in others", he urged the people. "There is no turf war. We are working for the people." Mr Moothsamy re-iterated that the SATF would not "play second fiddle" to any other organisation.